Tora-Con: Rochester’s Annual Anime Convention
Every year, the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)’s anime club hosts Tora-Con, an anime convention open to the public. Both local venders and vendors from across the country come to sell anime and game-related merchandise, as well as other Japanese goods. Visitors can dress up as their favorite anime and game characters, meet famous people in the industry such as voice actors, and participate in fun live events. Here is some information about this year’s convention.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
when, where, and how to register
This year’s Tora-Con takes place on March 23rd and 24th. It’s located at the RIT campus with badge pickup and vendors at the Gordon Field House, and free parking offered on the premise. Early Friday badge pickup occurs Friday, March 22nd, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday badge pickup is from 8 a.m. to 12 a.m., and Sunday badge pickup is from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., on the days that the convention takes place.
To register, go to the Tora-Con registration link on the official website of the convention. Registration ends Friday, March 15th. Tickets for the whole weekend are $40, with a $5 off early bird discount of $35. Saturday only tickets are $35, and Sunday only tickets are $30. Once you register, save or screenshot your confirmation email, since you will need to show it to the staff to receive your badge. You’ll also need to bring some sort of photo identification with you for badge pickup.
Source: Squarespace/Unsplash
rules for attending
There are a couple of rules and restrictions for the convention. For instance, attendees are not allowed to sell any food, merchandise, or artwork at the convention. Restricted substances such as cigarettes, alcohol, and e-cigarettes are not allowed in the convention, but smoking is permitted on designated areas of the RIT campus. Any form of ahegao clothing is prohibited.
Attendees under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Some panels and events are for 18+ attendees only, so you should bring a driver’s license or other form of valid photo identification that states your date of birth if you would like to attend one of those panels or events. You’ll need to bring one to check in anyway. You cannot gain entry to the event without checking in and receiving a badge, and your Tora-Con badge should always be visible.
Important things to keep in mind are that bag and security checks occur at the front door and you are not allowed to bring bottled drinks. Drinks will be available to purchase at the convention’s various food trucks.
Source: Squarespace/Unsplash
events
The schedule for Tora-Con 2024 has yet to be announced, but past events have included contests, performances, meet-ups, and game rooms such as a room dedicated to playing Nintendo DS. The convention also has various guests. Last year’s special guests included the singer/songwriter Shihori Nakane and famous cosplayers Kia Sangria and Stardust Megu.
Kia Sangria rejoins the guest list for 2024, along with award-winning cosplayer Maeviary, VTuber Kson, and voice actor Caleb Yen who has voiced characters in Demon Slayer, Attack on Titan, and Fullmetal Alchemist. Panels will also take place, with past ones consisting of informational talks, workshops, competitions, game shows, and more.
In addition to this, the convention also offers “artist alley” and a vendor's hall, which consists of multiple artists and businesses selling their fanart and products. This year’s current list of artist and vendor attendees has yet to be released, but last year, some local businesses attended, such as Hammergirl Anime—a shop selling anime figures and manga—and Sweet Poison Cupcake—a shop selling Japanese kawaii-inspired items such as plushies, keychains, and lolita clothing. Anime figures, keychains, merchandise, plushies, Japanese candy, art, stationary, and more are sold during the convention.
Source: Squarespace/Unsplash
tips for attending
Last year, I attended Tora-Con for the first time. Here are some tips to make your experience at the convention a lot easier!
First, make sure you bring some cash with you, since some artists and businesses do not accept credit cards. I was not aware of this and only brought my card. You’ll also want to bring your own bag if you plan on buying merchandise, since not all vendors will have bags for you.
Tora-Con can get crowded. This upcoming convention has a maximum capacity of 4000 people, and parking is first come first serve. If you want to ensure you get a good parking spot—and don’t spend an hour in line to pick up your badge—you’ll want to get there right at opening. This will also ensure that there’s a full stock of products at each vendor. Since some vendors come from out of town, they only bring a certain amount of their product with them, so you’ll want to be there while supplies last.
Lastly, you’ll want to think about your food and drink situation. When I went, I brought a water bottle and packed lunch with me in the car. After roaming around the vendors for about two hours, I returned to the car to eat and drink. If you want to do something similar, keep in mind that you’ll have to go through security again to reenter the Gordon Field House. If you don’t want to do this, Tora-Con has onsite food trucks to purchase food and drinks from. In addition to this, the campus sometimes opens the RIT dining hall to visitors during convention hours.
conclusion
Anime conventions are a ton of fun and the perfect way to meet new people with the same interests as you. One of the highlights of the convention every year is to see people’s cool, handmade costumes! Whether you’re looking to go all-out and dress up, or just looking to buy some awesome merchandise of your favorite characters, Tora-Con is the perfect convention for you! You’ll not only have a great time and support small businesses and artists, but you’ll also be supporting the RIT anime club so they’re able to keep hosting the convention! Keep an eye on the Tora-Con 2024 website for more information about this year’s convention.
